Calendar

Sept. 13-14 -- Wooldridge Square Grand Re-Opening! See article below.Sept. 28. --Shoal Creek Clean Up! It's Fall (or will be soon) so it's time to join your friends and neighbors and help beautify parts of Shoal Creek that runs through the neighborhood. OANA and Cirrus Logic are once again sponsoring a Shoal Creek Clean Up Day on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 28. Volunteers will be asked to help clean up the creek (litter, graffiti removal, etc.) and we are currently working with parks officials to explore projects for removing and treating invasive species and replacing them with desirable plants PLEASE JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM! Contact Michelle Johnson at Cirrus Logic!

OANA Board: Add Funds to Parks, Hire More Police Officers

The Old Austin Neighborhood Association Board of Directors has endorsed the City of Austin’s proposed 2014 budget, which includes funding for hiring 47 new police officers and increased funding for parks and recreation programs.

In the period between 2009-2012, the violent crime index rate increased around 40 percent, according to city statistics. For the first six months of 2013, however, those indices decreased by around 34 percent, due in large part to APD’s use of overtime to put additional police manpower downtown. This proposed budget would afford for a similar amount of staffing but without the need to pay personnel using overtime wage scales.

More $ for Austin Parks?

In addition to increased funding for police, the city is also proposing increasing funding for the Parks and Recreation Department with an additional $4.75M, broken down as follows:

$1M for pool improvements

$1M for tree improvements

$1.25M for trail improvements

$1.5M for general maintenance and programming improvements

OANA is actively working with Parks officials to help ensure that this funding, if approved, is directed toward projects with measurable benefit to citizens.

The Big Picture

A look at master planning items & government activitiesThe ACC Board of Trustees has deferred their planned bond election, targeting a vote in 2014 instead.* * *The city of Austin has officially decided to develop a bond proposition for $65M (compared to $78M previously) for affordable housing.

This proposition is supported by OANA as part of coalition headed by an organization called Keep Austin Affordable. This proposition will go before voters on Nov 5. See their website for more information.

Hot Spots

New & Exciting Openings and Events

After spending the past year in a feasibility assessment phase, the Shoal Creek Conservancy plans to begin operations as a formal entity on Oct. 1!

The Conservancy continues to fundraise, though it has nearly secured its operating budget for its first full year and has pledges for financial committments during the following two years from numerous neighborhood businesses and individuals.

The Conservancy also announced Joanna Wolaver has been named as executive director.

"OANA's efforts in launching the Shoal Creek Conservancy have been overwhelming," Wolaver said. "I look forward partnering with the community to create a more vibrant, beautiful, safer and better maintained Shoal Creek through the Conservancy. As our tag line says, we can do this together!"

Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that our name has changed. Actually we've been the Old Austin Neighborhood Association in the city registry since 1974. However, when we finally incorporated in 2009 the board members back then decided to incorporate as the 'Original Austin NA' because our area is where Austin's first residences were built. But, 'Original' hasn't felt exactly right, so in June, the OANA board changed our name back to 'Old Austin Neighborhood Association.

Social Order

Police, Fire & Public Health & Safety

More Police Downtown?

What do you think of the City of Austin's proposed budget increase that will add up to 16 new police officers assigned to the downtown area? (see lead story above)

Let the Austin City Council know what you think! Send them an email here!

Common Ground

A Look at Neighborhood Green & Public Spaces

Wooldridge Square Preps for Grand Re-Opening!

After a year of work by the Parks and Recreation Department to improve the lawn, trees, and historic bandstand, Wooldridge Square is ready to make its debut. Join us on September 13 -14 as the Downtown Austin Alliance and partners present the reopening celebration of Wooldridge Square with a weekend of fun including family activities, live music, food vendors, and a special performance by Dale Watson on Friday and the Austin Symphony Big Band on Saturday.

Over on Lamar Blvd. by 4th Street, construction is accelerating on a multi-story project that will be home to Fidelity Investments and Schlosser Development's headquarters. Also on Lamar, between 7th and 8th Streets, is a new four-story complex with first-story retail and additional parking for retailers such as Book People, REI and Anthropologie.